Academic Resources and Facilities

The Religious Worlds of New York summer institute will be held on the campus of Union Theological Seminary -- the oldest, and arguably the premier, independent graduate school of theology in the United States. The UTS campus is a peaceful oasis in the Manhattan neighborhood of Morningside Heights, with two blocks of gothic revival buildings set around a central Quad including open expanses of grass, outdoor seating, flower gardens, and an organic vegetable garden. Beyond the seminary's doors lies a vibrant neighborhood of leading academic and cultural institutions, including Columbia University, Teachers College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary, as well as a wide range of restaurants and cafes, scenic Riverside Park, and easy access to subway and bus service. Beyond the immediate nieghborhood lies all the excitement and diversity of New York City. An ethnographic engagement with the religious life of the city will be one of the Religious Worlds institute's most important academic resources.

Summer scholars will have a full complement of academic resources at their disposal, including the support of research librarians at Union's Burke Library, the largest theological library in the western hemisphere, and Columbia's Butler Library, which has particular strengths in history, literature, and philosophy. As students in a non-degree program, summer scholars will not have borrowing priviledges at Burke or Butler, but they will have access to all library resources. Summer scholars will also have IT support, use of UTS's computer lab (with free printing), and wireless internet throughout the campus.

Important Note for the 2019 Religious Worlds Institute

Union Theological Seminary is currently planning a major capital construction project, which may be ongoing during the 2019 institute. All academic facilities will remain open during construction, but the campus might not be such a "peaceful oasis" this summer. We will keep our summer scholars posted as soon as we learn more.

The Religious Worlds of New York summer institute is sponsored by:

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website, or in the Religious Worlds institute, do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.